ISE in cooperation with Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Chełmie has organized the 12th edition of the annual international scientific conference of the Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability (JTEFS) and Baltic and Black Sea Circle Consortium in Educational Research (BBCC) – a regional subsidiary of a global umbrella network by UNESCO on reorientation of teacher education to address sustainability.

In the course of the twelve years since its establishment, this conference has grown into a leading scientific forum where researchers and practitioners concerned with aligning teacher education with the aim of sustainability can share their visions of current trends, challenges and future prospects in the complex field that is the research and practice of sustainability-oriented education. In addition, the conference has become a springboard for joint international research projects and other collaborative initiatives among BBCC members. Renowned for its unique spirit of academic integrity and excellence, collegial respect and appreciation, this landmark scientific event annually attracts over a hundred participants who are both experienced experts and novices to researching sustainability‑oriented education.

Previous editions of the conference have been hosted by different BBCC members, including Daugavpils University (Latvia), Tallinn Pedagogical University (Estonia), University of Vechta (Germany), University of Helsinki (Finland), University of Debrecen (Hungary), Anadolu University (Turkey), UNESCO (France), Siauliai University (Lithuania), University of Eastern Finland (Finland) and Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (Russia).

In 2014, the organisation of the 12th conference edition was the responsibility of the State School of Higher Education in Chełm (Państwowa Wyższa Szkoła Zawodowa w Chełmie). The 12th conference has coincided with the year that marks the end of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. This opportune timing makes the 12th edition of JTEFS/BBCC conference perfectly poised to serve as a platform for retrospective contemplation of the challenges and achievements of the Decade as well as envisioning the future beyond it.

The scientists and researchers contributed to the following conference sections:

Phenomenology of Education for Sustainable Development

Research for Education for Sustainable Development

Teacher Education for Education for Sustainable Development

Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education

Organization of Learning and Research Environment in Education for Sustainable Development (pre-school, primary, and secondary level).

Education for Sustainable Development and Social Work

Education for Sustainable Development and E-learning

Earth Charter as a Framework for Education for Sustainable Development